St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-01-01
WINTER DISEASES.

| Tho Causes o0d Symptoms OF Winter
Cough, Plearssy asd Paeumoala.
"Winter cough" so-called, because
troubling the owner Of it most at that
season. while the summer months are
passed in comparative comfort. is
generally due to emphysema Of the
lungs. This is An over distended con-
dition Of the air-cclls. accompanied by
asthmatic attacks and chronic bron-
| chitis. 1t il usually due to nervous
asthma, or to > neglected bronchitis.
Sometimes it comes on after an attack
IF pneumonia. probably because Of
violent muscular efforts being made
before the lung has recovered its
healthy condition after the attack of
Inflammation. The breathing is labored.
especially on exertion; cough persists
from the setting in Of cold weather I'M
til late in the spring; the ''wheezing"
that accompanies respiration 10 disa-
about him; and the expectoration is ex-
PEELED with difficulty that adds to his
ordinary condition Of feebleness. This
is often mistaken for consumption.
but has no relationship to tubercle. Il
results in enlargement of the heart
6rst by ovcrgrowth, then by overdis-
sention. then dropsy, and eventually
tho duration Of life is shortened. The
sanitary precautions to be taken by
those subject to ''winter cough" are
these: The clothing must be light and
warm. OF flannel next the skin; exposure
10 wet weather must be avoided as
much - possible, the feet being par
ticularly guarded against dampness;
extraordinary exertion should not be
attempted, IS throwing too much work
apon the weakened heart; and the
:hronic bronchitis should be lessened
~ much ~ possible by the use of iodide
u potassium and balsamic remedies.
Too much liquids should not be taken:
they add too much to the bulk of the
blood and require too much work from
he heart to keep the watery 6uid circu-
lating. equality Of the blood should
De improved BY the use Of iron and
highly nutritious diet. of which lean
meat should form considerable pro-
portion.
Pleurisy and pneumonia are thought
~ many to be typical winter diseases.
But most cases OF pleurisy are due to
some poison generated within the body.
and have no relation whatever to ex-
posture to cold. 1t is probable that
occasionally cold does produce it.
mostly in . secondary way. Rheuma-
ism is undoubtedly at the basis Of some
pleurisies and. in its turn. may owe
It's development to exposure TO cold
and damp. But Pleurisy is more often
traceable to kidney diseases or to some
other poisoned condition Of the blood
than simply to cold. The chronic
form Is never brought on by exposure.
Pneumonia Of the ordinary type. in
which one lobe Of one lung is alone
affected, begins with severe chill in
most instances. So does smallpox.
Like the latter, it is . specific fever
and. no more than it, is caused by cx-
posture to cold. The chill is apt to
make a strong impression that tempcra-
ture has something to do with the dis
ease. but It is erroneous. It is we'll
known fact that pneumonia il not most
prevalent in the coolest weather. The
spring is its favorite season. 1t
least most cases occur after the
severest cold weather is over. Tho
other form-tbat known as catarrh-
IL or broncho-pneumonis-in which
patches or nodules Of Inflammation ap-
pear scattered through both lungs. is
often due TO the cold. That is. the
chilling Of the surface causes - cold"
or moro correctly. bronchitis, and in
ANAL children or the aged this may OK
broncho- pneumonia. Il is. however.
more often the sequel to measles, small
pox. diphtheria or some other blood
poisoning than to cold Is SUCH The
prevention Of this form Of disease de-
ponds upon preventing the primary
Affection. Louis Globe Densocra: